Tractor



B. P: SHIPPY. TRAinoR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1920. 1,371,938. Patented Mar. 15,1921.

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B. P. SHIPPY.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-4. 1920.

1,371,938. Patented Mar. 15, 1921,

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MNMIMA attozmq B. P. SHIPPY.

TRACTOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, I920- 1,371,"938. b Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

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neuron P. surrey, or CASBER, wvommel TRACTOR.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Patented lump, 15,1921,

Application filed September 4, .1920. Serial No. 408,149.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENTON P. SHIPPY,'a

citizen of the United States, residing at.

Casper, in the county of Natrona and State of Wyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tractors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tractors, comprises a pair 0f traction members adapt-. ed to be arranged on each side of a tractor body, each of said members comprising end and side walls, a pair of shafts arranged in each of said members, sprockets mounted on said shafts, an endless belt or chain passing over said sprockets, a plurality of independent ground engaging elements projecting outwardly a considerable distance to space the body of the tractor from the ground and being provided with enlargements engaging the ground, supports for sald chain, and rollers carried by said chain and engaging said supports; all as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

i In the present invention, I have devised traction means which maybe advantageously employed in connection with farm implements, the traction members being disposed on each side ofthe body of the tractor to support the tractor above the ground, whereby the tractor may travel through a fieldwith the traction members in the spaces between the rows and the tractor straddling the "rows to carry suitable agricultural implements, such as cultivators, plows, etc.

The traction members are provided with a plurality of individual ground engaging elements or legs having enlarged ends to engage the ground and being capable of traveling on hard or soft earth. The provision of ground engaging elements or legs is advantageous in that the tractor does not makea continuous track as it passes over the ground. W hen 'a tractor, provided with a continuous tread, passes over the ground, it

mashes or flattens the ground at the point of contact and each engaging section, as it comes in contact with the ground, is forced to climb a slight incline from the flattened track made by the previous engaging section.

The invention further comprises means for driving the traction elements, comprising a pair of sprocket wheels and an endless belt or chain, carrying the ground engaging elements, the belt or chain beingprovided' with rollers adapted to engage suitable supports on the frame of the traction element and it to tion.

In the accompa nyi ng drawings, 1 have shown an advantageous embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

F gure l is a front elevation of a tractor showing a traction member arranged on each side thereof,

f Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view ofa portion of a traction member,

provide easy running and reduce fric- Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional .view on the line ,3-3 of Fig. 1,

- Fig. 4 is asimilar view on the line 4-4 of Flg. 1,

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a similar view on the of Fig. 3, and i Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of 1gnle of the supporting tracks for the endless Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates generally, a tractor which may be made of any suitable construction, and which, as shown, is provided with a pair oftransverse supporting memline 6-6 bers 2, adapted to be secured to traction elements 3, arranged on each side of the trac tor, the body of the tractor and the supporting elements forming a substantially U- shaped frame, whereby the body of the tractor is spaced considerable distance from the ground. If the tractor is employed in agriculture, it is advantageous to space the body of the tractor from the ground to permit it to straddle rows of corn or the like, illustrated as at 4. The tractor may support suitable agricultural implements, such as plows, Cultivators, or the like, as at. 5.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 7 of the drawings, wherein the traction members are illustrated in detail, each of the members comprises a suitable frame consisting. of side plates 6 and end plates 7, the top and bottom being I open. A pair of shafts 8 and 9 is arranged transversely of the frame, one of the shafts being connected to a source'of power. such as an engine carried by the tractor, in any suitable manner (not shown). Sprocket wheels 10 and 11, respectively arearranged on the shafts 8 and 9. An endless belt consisting of plates or; -memhers 12 is adapted toengage the sprocket wheels and be actuated thereby. As shown. each of the plates is provided'with a plurality of laterally projecting pins 13, adapted to engage the depressions in the surface ofthe spro ket wheel, the pins on. one plate being spaced from each other to receive one of the'projections 14 on the sprocket wheel therebetween, and being so spaced with relation to the pin on the next adjacent plate that a pair of such pins on adjacent plates may be receivedina single depression 15(see Fig.4). The plates of the belt are connected to each other by hinges 16 to permit relative move ment. Each of the lplates' is provided with a pair of spaced ribs or projections 17 "and 18 ,the body portion '19 of the laterally projecting ground engagi element being er-- ranged therebetween, he outer end of theground en aging element is-provided with a tread mem er 20 of greater width than the .body portion. It will be-noted fr'om aninspection of Figs. 3 and 4 of-the drawings that the ground engaging elements are spaced a considerable distance from each other, and-dohot make a continuous track as the tractor passes over the ground The plates 12 are provided with. recesses on their the lower face. As "shown,

ing with the recesses and -with cars- 25 and 26, adapted to form shafts of the rollers. jecting ribs 17 and 18 bearings forthe Similarly, the "proare provided with re cesses 27 whieh are covered by plates 28 the recesses. recesses and openings, the shafts of the tending around the shafts 8 and having openings therein, registering with Rollers 29 are arranged in the rollers being journaled in ears 30 carried by I the plates 28.

Intermediate the. ends of the frame, there is provided a' and'spacing p ates 31 and 32. These plates are secured to' the side members in any suitable manner. As shown, the plates are pr 0- vided with end flanges 33 and 34., adapted to 1 receive fastening elements 354and 36, passing through-the flangesancl the side plates. Suitable supporting'means for theendless belt are provided, consisting of a plate 37 arranged between the side plates and ex- 9, the plate at 40, toprovide suitably spaced being curved at each'end', as an endless supportingtrack from the belt when the belt is inproper PO siti'on and adapted "to be engaged by the\ lower rollers 22. [The provislon of asupporting membrr37 and the rollersi-22 provides positivesupporting means for the' traction elements, prevents sagging -.of the chain, and reduces friction. Additional guiding and supporting tracks are provided, adapted, to engage the upper rollers 21and" the rollers 29 carried by the ribsl-T and 18.

actress I As shown, the auxiliary guiding air of transverse supporting ;,the traction =tractor employed for'a its use is in no' way limitedto this field, and

it may be employed in connection with tracto rs' used in many other ways. vidualand independent ground engaging" elements and supporting means consist of a substantially L- shaped member having a vertical portion 41 and ahorizontal portion 42,'tlie horizontal portion being adapted to engage the rollers '21 and the vertical portion to engage the.

rollers 29. This'auxiliary track is supported from the side members by suitable braclc ets 43. A pair of these auxiliary trucks may be provided, arranged on each side ofthe belt. The engagement of the vertical portion of the track and the rollers 29 forms a guide for the belt to overcome or prevent lateral shifting. track is-curved as at 44. As shown, the auxiliary track is arranged on the under side of belt during its operative flight. However, if desired,'the auxiliary track may. be extended entirely around the belt and suitably spaced therefrom to, engage the rollers throughout the entire travel of the belt.

The tractor herein disclosed is suitable for use in many ways. It is particularly adapted for agricultural work wherein the body of the tractor is spaced from the,

Spacing of ground straddling the rows. the body of the tractor; prevents damage to ther ro'ws of members belng provided with gaging elements extending a distance from the body portion of useon hard or softv ground.

ground enconsiderable and capable When used on soft earth, the ground engaging elements are prevented from -'si'nking to any considerable distance below the surface of the ground: by the extreme width of the tread members 20. A slight sinking into the ground by the traction members does not, inany way, interfere with the operation of the tractor. When the tractor is in operation, each of the tread members 20 carried ground engaging elements '19, en-

by the The end of the auxiliary the'traction member, adapted to engagethe rowing vegetables, the traction gagesthe ground independently of the other elements, and they are sospliced from each other that the tractor does. not make a con tinuous track. Where a-tractor travels on a elements, a continuous track 'is made on the grou'ndland the'ground flattened. A tracv tor of this character requires considerable more power for operation because, as. each ing element. Although I members in connectionwith the icultural purposes,

produce a very'positive drive-for all uses, an'd;thefimprovedmanner of suphave. described-and illustrated The i indi -tread consistingof a number of connected Hi x I he encihs chain is refines imcswn wide pesitwe @rwmg means as -tageous and efiicleint.

claim l. A. imcior embodying a pair of traction embers bested upon apposite sides of a Eyes I se i each 0:5 said traction members cempns'ing a casing formed of spaced side Walls, a pair f shaft-s arranged in sai casing, sgareckes Wheels arranged en said shaft, an endless chain arranged; in the cssiilg and engaging said sprocket Wheels, ground engzwiug elements carried. by said chain a set 0f sellers arranged on the upper face 9f said -':11:Ji.- a secemi set of yol'lers arranged. on the upyszf face 01 said chain and at right angles in saiai first mentiened. z-elisrs, sn pporting members secured to said side alls,

' gaming members comprising sub- L-"ha erecks edeped is receive 1 s and, seeend. mentioned 'rsllers a, sea of sellers arranged an the lever face chain and supperting means posisaid rollers and adapted is be eby.

e es 0' the d esels M1011 Whlfih comprises an enc'iiess chain fermw 01'? w e hinged pistes reflexes meunted iii "I and. Eewer ihereei gmunfi en: elements carried by each 0f s pair sf iengiiudinel ribs :1; each side of said ground enga "1g rollers meunteq in said. ribs t0 said first mentioned sellers, ingmesrs 33012 said chain adapts said Tali-eras, 3; A Eraeion member comprising formed of spaces. side walls, a 0i arranged in said; easing, spmcket 1 ranged 011 said shaft, an endless ranged she casing and en. sprocket Wheels, ground carried by said chain, e ranged 0n the lower face of said e7 porting means arranged an Elie ass adapted to be by m'iiers s of rollers arranged on the unnel fees e' said chain, msesend set 0% ml m the upper face of said chain at right angles to said. men a. and suppersing carried b and sdspte he be my rollers arranged as the "121' iestimeny whereoi si'fil i my in presence sf rflo witnesses.

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